Paint Brush Edging Tool

ABSTRACT

Paint brush edge guide tool for a brush handle, has a proximal attachment, a stabilization plate disposed adjacent the handle, and a first elevated plate rising above the stabilization plate. The elevated plate rises at an acute angle away from the  3 -D brush plane, being twisted about an axial centerline of the plane. An elevated terminal plate extends beyond the first elevated plate and is twisted about the centerline. The terminal plate distal edge extends beyond the terminal edge of the  3 -D brush plane and the terminal plate is disposed at an obtuse angle from the elevated plate such that the terminal plate edge extends longitudinally beyond the  3 -D brush plane and lies substantially adjacent the facing region of the  3 -D brush plane. The terminal plate is twisted about the centerline. The interface between the elevate plate and the terminal plate may be a flex joint.

The present invention relates to a patent brush tool which is used in connection with a paint brush and enables the user to easily cut in a painted edge between intersecting walls or intersecting walls and moldings.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is well-known that cutting in an edge between two interfacing wall surfaces or between the interface between a wall and molding is difficult. A user typically dips his or her paint brush into the paint and attempts to paint a straight line along a considerable length, typically more than 2-3 feet (more than 1 m). During this activity, the edge of the brush may wobble thereby painting an edge that is not straight. The present invention solves this problem.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,210,791, an Edger Attachment for Paint Brushes, discloses an edger attachment that includes a shielding plate pivotally mounted on a paint brush for movements between an operative position for guiding the bristle end portions of the brush and an inoperative position away from the bristles of the brush.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,930,278, a Paintbrush and Guard Attachment for Edging, discloses a device for removable attachment to a paintbrush to assist in cutting-in one flat surface to another. It is formed of a flat metal sheet having a “foot” and a pair of bendable arms that can be bent to engage the opposite sides of the handle of a paintbrush, while the “foot” portion acts as a guide and shield against unintentional smearing.

U.S. Patent Published Application No. 2015/5223593, a Novel Paint Brush with Built In Edger, discloses a paint brush with a built in edger system that aims to control the application of paint and purportedly eliminates the need to use masking tape. The edger system is attached to the brush as a mechanical attachment. The edging device aims to prevent paint from going beyond the borders of the edging device.

U.S. Pat. No. 782,53, a Paint Brush, discloses a paint brush with an attachment in the form of a guard or shield. The shield is able to retract to expose the bristles of a brush and then readily extended to cover the brush, as needed.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,049,741, a Paint Brush Guide, discloses a paint brush guide to attach to a paint brush in order to guide the brush along a window casing or frame.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,341,879, a Paint Brush Edging Attachment, discloses another form of an edging attachment.

Additional prior art paint tools are disclosed at U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,584,504; 2,820,237; 3,401,418; and 4,339,837; and U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 2003/196286; and 2013/022386.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide an edging tool that can be removably attached to a paint brush handle.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an edging tool which permits the user to gather paint at the terminal end of the paint brush bristles without placing paint on the distal terminal edge of the edging tool.

It is another object of the invention to provide an edging tool that primarily has elevated shields or plates which extend outboard and away from the three dimensional bristle plane.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A paint brush tool adapted to be removably attached to a handle on a paint brush wherein the paint brush has a handle, a bristle box longitudinally and laterally extending from the handle and paint brush bristles extending both longitudinally outboard beyond the bristle box. The bristles, both longitudinally and laterally form a three dimensional (3-D) solid bristle brush plane. The tool includes a guide having a proximal attachment member attached to the handle. The guide has a stabilization plate adapted to be disposed substantially on and adjacent the handle proximal to the interface between the handle and the bristle box. The stabilization plate may extend to be adjacent the bristle box of the brush. In one embodiment, the guide has a first elevated plate above the stabilization plate at a rise rate of about 1 inch per foot. In another embodiment, the guide has a lateral, substantially perpendicular riser wall elevating a first elevated plate above the stabilization plate. The first elevated plate extends longitudinally beyond the stabilization plate, rises above the stabilization plate at an acute angle, about 15 degrees and is rotated in a roll manner about 30 degrees form the longitudinal centerline of the 3-D bristle brush plane. The first elevated plate is disposed at an acute angle away from the 3-D brush plane and extends at an angle away from and outboard of the 3-D brush plane. The tool includes a forward elevated terminal plate longitudinally extending beyond a distal edge of the first elevated plate. A distal edge of the terminal plate is adapted to extend longitudinally beyond a distal terminal edge of the 3-D brush plane. The forward terminal plate is disposed at an obtuse angle away from the first elevated plate such that the distal terminal plate edge both extends longitudinally beyond the 3-D brush plane and lies substantially adjacent a facing region of the 3-D brush plane. The first elevated plate and the forward terminal plate are adapted to be elevated over, spaced apart from and to cover the facing region of the 3-D brush plane. The first and second elevated plates are rotated at an acute angle about a longitudinal centerline of the 3-D brush plane away from the 3-D brush plane about 15-30 degrees from the 3-D plane.

As a result, the user is enabled to gather paint on the 3-D brush plane without placing paint on the forward terminal plate. Also, the distal edge of the forward terminal plate rides along the wall-to-wall corner (or wall-to-molding corner) thereby guiding the brush in a straight line.

Further features of the tool include a hinge at the interface of the first elevated plate and the forward terminal plate thereby permitting the terminal plate to flex towards and away from the first elevated plate as needed by the user. The tool has a stabilization plate, a riser, a first elevated plate and a terminal plate as a one-piece, integral structure. The hinge may be formed by a thin walled interface between the first elevated plate and the terminal plate. The thinner interface wall establishes a flexible joint between the first elevated plate and the terminal plate.

The paint tool may have a bristle box and the 3-D brush plane which respectively have a predetermined box length and width and a predetermined 3-D brush plane length and width. The first elevated plate and the terminal plate have lengths and widths which complement and cover the predetermined box length and width and predetermined 3-D brush plane length and width.

The 3-D brush plane has a terminal brush edge which may be angular with respect to a longitudinal aspect of the 3-D brush plate. In this case, the terminal plate has a distal terminal edge which is angular with respect to a longitudinal aspect of the terminal plate and which is complementary to the terminal brush edge.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further objects and advantages of the present invention are found in the detailed description of the preferred embodiments when taken in conjunction with the drawings which are briefly described below.

FIG. 1 diagrammatically illustrates one side of the edge tool mounted on a paint brush (the brush body primarily illustrated by dashed lines in FIG. 1 and the bristles partially diagrammatically illustrated therein (not in dashed lines)).

FIG. 2a diagrammatically illustrates a left side view of the paintbrush and the mounted edging tool (FIG. 1 being a front view).

FIG. 2b diagrammatically illustrates an end view of the paintbrush, the mounted edging tool and the angular rotated nature of the shield with the two elevated plates.

FIGS. 3a, 3b , 4, 5 and 6 diagrammatically illustrate attachment mechanisms which enable the user to attach the edging tool to the handle of the paint brush.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention relates to a paint brush tool and, more specifically, an edging tool which is removably mounted onto a paintbrush. Similar numerals designate similar items throughout the Figures.

FIGS. 1 and 2 a diagrammatically illustrate a paintbrush 10 and an edging tool 30 removably mounted on paint brush handle 12. FIGS. 1 and 2 a are discussed concurrently herein.

Paint brush 10 includes a handle 12 and a handle transitional segment 12 a leading longitudinally to bristle box 14. A plurality of paint brush bristles 17 (diagrammatically partly illustrated in the Figures) extend both longitudinally and laterally outboard beyond bristle box 14 as well as handle 12, 12 a. Additionally, bristles 17 extend laterally from bristle box 30 to form a three-dimensional (3-D) solid bristle brush plane. FIG. 1 shows that paint brush 10 has a longitudinal axis 11 a-11 b.

In FIG. 1, the majority of paint brush 10 is shown in dashed lines because the paint brush edging tool 30 covers a substantial portion of paint brush 10 when viewed from the perspective shown in FIG. 1. In FIG. 2a , paint brush edging tool 30 is shown primarily elevated above a majority of paint brush 10, that is, elevated above bristle box 14 and 3-D bristle brush plane 16. The three-dimensional solid 3-D plane 16 is made of a plurality of bristles 17. These bristles have distal terminal end 18. The terms “distal” and the complementary term “proximal” refer to items either farther away from handle 12 or closer to handle 12, respectively. Therefore bristle brush terminal end 18 is at a distal position away from handle 12 as compared with bristle box 14 which is in a proximal location to handle 12 as compared with the location of terminal end 18.

Paint tool 30 includes, at its proximal end, an attachment member which permits the tool to be removably attached to handle 12 of paint brush 10. Attachment systems are discussed later in FIGS. 3a, 3b and 4-6. The tool is a paint guide for the user. The tool is a guide 30 that enables the user to paint a straight edge at the interface between two adjoining wall surfaces or at the interface between a wall and a molding. The tool 30 has a stabilization plate 34 that is disposed substantially on and adjacent handle segment 12 a. Plate 34 stabilizes the guide tool 30 on the paint brush handle 12 and prohibits the guide from rolling in an angular manner with respect to axial line 11 a-11 b and hence rolling with respect to brush bristles 17. Stabilization plate 34 is proximal to and adjacent the interface between handle 12, 12 a and bristle box 14. Plate 34 may extend over the bristle box 14.

In one embodiment, the tool guide 30 includes a lateral, substantially perpendicular riser wall (not shown) which elevates a first elevated plate 40 above the stabilization plate 34 and the riser wall is perpendicular to the plane of plate 34. In another embodiment shown in the Figures, the first elevated plate 40 rises above the 3-D bristle plane 16 at an acute angle, about 15 degrees and rises above the stabilization plate 34 (plate 34 being adjacent to the brush handle and bristle box) and the first elevational plate is rotated about 30 degrees about the 3-D axial centerline 11 a, 11 b. In this manner, one lateral edge of plate 34 is nearer to the 3-D plane and the other lateral edge of plate 34 is farther away from the 3-D plane.

The first elevated plate 40 extends longitudinally beyond the distal end region of stabilization plate 34 and the proximal longitudinal region 38 of plate 40 is very near and sometimes adjacent the bristle brush box 14. The plate 40, with respect to FIGS. 1 and 2 a, extends away from stable plate 34 and handle 12 and towards terminal brush end 18 and further is rotated about 15-30 degrees about the axial centerline 11 a, 11 b. This rotation can be thought of as a twist in the guide.

FIG. 2b shows that elevated plate 40 is angularly rotated about 15-30 degrees about the axial centerline 11 a, 11 b such that the plate longitudinally rises above the 3D bristle plane but also is rolled at a 15-30 degree angle about the axial centerline 11 a, 11 b of the 3D bristle plane.

The elevated plate 40 is disposed at an acute angle away from 3-D brush plane 16 and extends at an angle away from and outboard of 3-D brush plane 16. This acute angle is shown as angle 41 in FIG. 2a . In this manner, the edge tool guide 30 is spaced apart from the main body of bristles 17 which forms 3-D brush plane 16. The elevated plate 40 extends outboard and progressively and continuously away from the brush plane 16 such that, at various longitudinal locations, the more distal portions of elevated plate 40 are further and further away from brush plane 16 as those locations are longitudinally spaced farther away from handle 12. Also, the plate 40 is rotated about axial line 11 a, 11 b.

The edge guide 30 includes a forward elevated terminal plate 44 which extends beyond the distal interface edge 42 of elevated plate 40. The elevated terminal plate 44 has a distal terminal edge or end 46 which extends longitudinally beyond distal terminal edge 18 of 3-D brush plane 16.

The forward terminal plate 44 is disposed at an obtuse angle away from the elevated plate 40 such that the distal terminal plate 44 and the edge 46 extends longitudinally beyond the 3-D brush plane 16 and the edge 46 lies substantially adjacent a facing region 19 of 3-D brush plane 16. As shown in FIG. 2a , the brush 3-D plane 16 has a thickness 25 and the terminal edge 46 is disposed a distance 59 away from face region 19 of brush plane 16. Shield tip 90 is complementary to brush tip 91.

The forward plate has a terminal edge 46 (see FIG. 2a ) which is cut at a diagonal with respect to axial centerline 11 a, 11 b to complement the diagonal cut of the 3D bristle plane 16. See FIG. 1. Further, as shown in FIG. 2b , the forward plate 44 is rotated about 15-30 degrees about the axial centerline 11 a, 11 b such that the forward-most tip 95 of edge 46 is further away from the 3D bristle plane 16 as compared with the more-proximal edge point 97 of edge 46. FIG. 1 shows tip pints 95, 97.

The elevated plate 40 and the terminal plate 44 are adapted to be elevated over and spaced apart from and cover the facing region 19 of the 3-D brush plane 16 and further are rotated about 15-30 degrees with respect to the axial centerline 11 a, 11 b. In this manner, a user can gather paint on the 3-D brush plane 16 and more specifically on bristles 17 without placing paint on the forward terminal plate 16 and on edge 46.

The lateral span 51 of tool guide 30 is greater than the lateral span 23 of the 3-D brush plane 16. In this manner elevated plate 40 and terminal plate 44 have complementary lateral and longitudinal dimensions which cover all the bristles. By covering 3D plane face 19, paint on bristles 17 do not strike any wall segment that terminal edge 46 of terminal plate 44 strikes. The terminal edge 46 forces bristle end 18 away from the wall striking terminal edge 46.

The bristles are covered a longitudinal distance 21 a with the use of plates 40, 44 having a having a brush coverage distance 57. Further, plates 40, 44 are elevated above and both laterally and longitudinally cover the bristle box 14 and 3D brush plane 16 as shown by the combination of longitudinal distances 55, 57 and lateral distance 51. Although FIG. 1 shows that the lateral distance 51 for plates 44 and 40 is slightly larger than the lateral distance 23 of the 3D brush plane 16, the differential space 53 between these two lateral distances is small.

FIG. 1 shows that the terminal bristle brush end 18 is cut at a bias (cut at an angle, diagonally) with respect to the longitudinal centerline 11 a-11 b. It is well-known that some paint brushes have bristle ends cut at a bias 18. Other paint brushes have bristle ends 18 that are normal or perpendicular to the longitudinal aspect of the brush. One type of edge guide 30 includes a terminal end 46 that is cut perpendicular to the axis 11 a, 11 b wherein the brush end 18 is perpendicular to the longitudinal aspect of the brush, and the terminal edge 46 of terminal plate 44 is also perpendicular to the longitudinal aspect of the brush as well as the guide edging tool 30.

The edging guide tool 30 may have a thin walled interface 42 between elevated plate 40 and terminal plate 44 which interface has thinner wall thickness than the thickness of plate 40 and plate 44. By thinning wall interface 42, this provides an additional flex joint, permitting flexing of the guide end 44, 46, with respect to plate 40. This flex joint 42 is noted by the double headed flex arrow 31 in FIG. 2a . FIG. 1 shows interface 42 indicating that there is a thin wall region at that interface between plate 44 and plate 40. The flexation assists the use of the edge guide.

In one embodiment, the stabilization plate 34, riser 36, elevated plate 40 and terminal plate 44 are all one piece, as an integral structure. Preferably, guide structure 30 is made of plastic.

The guide edging tool 30 can be attached with many different types of attachment mechanisms, systems or members to handle 12. FIGS. 3a, 3b , 4, 5 and 6 show various types of attachment members. In FIG. 3a , attachment member 71 is a clip-on to the brush handle portion 12 a. In FIG. 3b , a wrap around strap 70 includes either a button 72 or a snap to fix the strap to the handle. In FIG. 4, a snap 76 is utilized for a single wrap attachment system 74. In FIG. 5, attachment system 78 is a multiple wrap-around elastic strap. Returning to FIG. 3a , attachment mechanism 71 is a hardware clasp extending partly around the handle. Also, the attachment system maybe a clam shell loop-around clasp which closes with a snap hook and catch closure element or may be a clam shell clasp with a snap lock which clasp extends around the handle.

FIG. 6 is a partly broken away view and shows a lateral guide element 90 which is normal to stabilization plate 34 which further stabilizes guide tool 30 on handle 12. Attachment mechanism 80 wraps around lateral guide element 90 as well as handle 12.

The claims appended hereto are meant to cover modifications and changes within the scope and spirit of the present invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A paint brush tool adapted to be removably attached to a handle on a paint brush wherein the paint brush has a handle, a bristle box longitudinally and laterally extending from the handle and paint brush bristles extending both longitudinally outboard beyond the bristle box and the handle and laterally from the bristle box and the handle to form a three dimensional (3-D) solid bristle brush plane about a longitudinal centerline of the 3-D brush plane, the tool comprising: a guide having a proximal attachment member attached to said handle; said guide having a stabilization plate adapted to be disposed substantially on and adjacent said handle proximal to the interface between said handle and said bristle box; said guide having a first elevated plate above said stabilization plate and extending longitudinally beyond said stabilization plate; said first elevated plate disposed at an acute angle away from said 3-D brush plane and extending at an angle away from and outboard of said 3-D brush plane; a forward elevated terminal plate longitudinally extending beyond a distal edge of said first elevated plate, a distal edge of said terminal plate adapted to extend longitudinally beyond a distal terminal edge of said 3-D brush plane; said forward terminal plate disposed at an obtuse angle away from said first elevated plate such that said distal terminal plate edge both extends longitudinally beyond said 3-D brush plane and lies substantially adjacent a facing region of said 3-D brush plane; said first elevated plate and said forward terminal plate adapted to be elevated over, spaced apart from and to cover said facing region of said 3-D brush plane; said first elevated plate and terminal elevated plate being twisted and rotated at an acute angle about the longitudinal centerline of the 3-D brush plane and away from the 3-D brush plane; thereby enabling a user to gather paint on said 3-D brush plane without placing paint on said forward terminal plate.
 2. A paint tool as claimed in claim 1 including a hinge at the interface of said first elevated plate and said forward terminal plate thereby permitting said terminal plate to flex towards and away from said first elevated plate as needed by said user.
 3. A paint tool as claimed in claim 2 wherein said stabilization plate, said riser, said first elevated plate and said terminal plate are a one-piece, integral structure.
 4. A paint tool as claimed in claim 3 wherein said hinge is formed by a thinner interface between said first elevated plate and said terminal plate, said thinner interface establishing a flexible joint between said first elevated plate and said terminal plate.
 5. A paint tool as claimed in claim 1 wherein said bristle box and said 3-D brush plane respectively have a predetermined box length and width and a predetermined 3-D brush plane length and width, said first elevated plate and said terminal plate having lengths and widths which complement and cover said predetermined box length and width and predetermined 3-D brush plane length and width.
 6. A paint tool as claimed in claim 5 wherein said 3-D brush plane has a terminal brush edge which is angular with respect to a longitudinal aspect of said 3-D brush plate, said terminal plate having said distal terminal edge which is angular with respect to a longitudinal aspect of said terminal plate and which is complementary to said terminal brush edge.
 7. A paint tool as claimed in claim 6 wherein said proximal attachment member, which is adapted to be attached to said handle, is a wrap around attachment member which includes one attachment system from the group of systems including a wrap around strap with hook and loop cloth strips, a wrap around strap with a button, a wrap around strap with a snap, an elastic wrap around strap, a clasp extending about said handle and a clam shell clasp with a snap lock which clasp extends about said handle.
 8. A paint tool as claimed in claim 7 wherein said stabilization plate includes at least one lateral guide element normal to said stabilization plate and adapted to be disposed adjacent said handle.
 9. A paint tool as claimed in claim 8 including a hinge at the interface of said first elevated plate and said forward terminal plate thereby permitting said terminal plate to flex towards and away from said first elevated plate as needed by said user.
 10. A paint tool as claimed in claim 9 wherein said stabilization plate, said riser, said first elevated plate and said terminal plate are a one-piece, integral structure.
 11. A paint tool as claimed in claim 10 wherein said hinge is formed by a thinner interface between said first elevated plate and said terminal plate, said thinner interface establishing a flexible joint between said first elevated plate and said terminal plate.
 12. A paint brush tool adapted to be removably attached to a handle on a paint brush wherein the paint brush has a handle, a bristle box longitudinally and laterally extending from the handle and paint brush bristles extending both longitudinally outboard beyond the bristle box and the handle and laterally from the bristle box and the handle to form a three dimensional (3-D) solid bristle brush plane about a longitudinal centerline of the 3-D brush plane, the tool comprising: a guide having a proximal handle clip or handle strap attached to said handle, said handle clip or handle strap adapted to removably attach and detach said guide from said handle; said guide having a first elevated plate coupled to said handle clip or handle strap and extending longitudinally away from said handle when said guide is attached to said handle via said handle clip or said handle strap; said first elevated plate disposed at an acute angle away from said 3-D brush plane and extending at an angle away from and outboard of said 3-D brush plane when said guide is attached to said handle; a forward elevated terminal plate longitudinally extending beyond a distal edge of said first elevated plate, a distal edge of said terminal plate adapted to either be (a) co-extensive with said a distal terminal edge of said 3-D brush plane or (b) extend longitudinally beyond said distal terminal edge of said 3-D brush plane when said guide is attached to said handle; an outboard surface of said forward terminal plate disposed at an obtuse angle away from an outboard surface said first elevated plate such that said distal terminal plate edge both extends over said 3-D brush plane and lies substantially adjacent a terminal brush facing region of said 3-D brush plane such that said forward terminal plate is adapted to be elevated over and spaced apart from said terminal brush facing region of said 3-D brush plane; said first elevated plate and terminal elevated plate being longitudinally twisted and rotated at an acute angle with respect to a longitudinal centerline of the 3-D brush plane; thereby enabling a user to gather paint on said 3-D brush plane and said terminal brush facing region without placing paint on said forward terminal plate.
 13. A paint tool as claimed in claim 12 including a hinge along an interface between said first elevated plate and said forward terminal plate thereby permitting said terminal plate to flex with respect to said first elevated plate.
 14. A paint tool as claimed in claim 13 wherein said hinge is formed as a detent along said interface between said first elevated plate and said terminal plate, said detent establishing a flexible joint between said first elevated plate and said terminal plate. 